Hi guys! We just finished the 2nd week of our "Friendspace" series, a series about "Real Relationships in a Virtual World." Sounds like I should update people on both weeks.
- The Metaphor — This social networking thing is BIG. Facebook. MySpace. LinkedIn. Twitter. Companies are tapping into an intrinsic need that God built into our DNA…the need to connect…as Genesis 2 says, "It is not good that man should be alone…." Why did God do this? Read the next thot…
- God IS a Relationship — It isn't just that God desires relationship, or created relationship, or likes relationship. It's that God — IS — a relationship. He IS — by definition — a Trinity…the "Godhead"…the 3-in-1…a relationship between Father, Son, & Spirit. And the original "Friend Request" in history was Jesus Christ…God's invitation to us to join in the love & fellowship shared in the Trinity.
- Relationally Connecting — The Greek word God uses to describe this deep connection with someone on the spiritual level is "koinonia", a word that can be translated "fellowship, communion, or sharing." The word literally implies "mutual sharing" or "mutual participation." Check out 1 John 1 for God's discussion of "koinonia", and Acts 2 for an illustration of it.
- Best 20 Minutes This Week — Read thru Ephesians this week. Or listen to the audio online. One option is here. Takes just 20 minutes. The simple outline is (1) chapters 1-3 – "Our Riches in Christ;" (2) chapters 4-6 – "Our Walk in Christ."
- Did I Really Say That??? — I used an illustration in our 3rd service that wasn't in my notes. I compared people trying to gossip to you, to people trying to vomit in your mouth. (1) It tastes terrible. (2) It's unhealthy. (3) You'd put a stop to it immediately. Maybe I shouldn't have said that out loud. 🙂
- Diving Deeper — Here are cross references that ended up on yesterday's cutting-room floor.
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- Choose not to let the conflict go unresolved — Mark 3:2
- Take your concerns privately to them — Proverbs 6:19
- Think & act & speak in ways which foster unity — Proverbs 15:1, Philippians 4:8
- Offer them the free & full forgiveness of Christ — 2 Corinthians 2:10, Mark 11:26
Next weekend's topic? "Let's chat." How to have great communication, in even the highest-risk situations.
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